Moroccan-Spanish high commission starts works in Madrid

The Moroccan-Spanish high joint commission started the proceedings of its fifth meeting on Wednesday in Madrid.

The first day was marked by a two-hour tete-a-tete meeting between the two countries' prime ministers, Abderrahmane Youssoufi and Jose Maria Aznar.

The two sides discussed means of giving a new dimension to bilateral relations, which were described by Youssoufi as "good, rich and in full evolution," and which are going, as put by the media, through "a good phase."

Talks focused on the issue of fisheries, Morocco having officially announced that it will not renew the four-year fisheries accord binding it to the European Union when it expires in November 1999.

Youssoufi renewed Morocco's will not to renew the accord. He said the decision was not at all ill-intentioned and was dictated by the concern to preserve the country's depleting sea resources.

He said he is amazed by the attitude of Spanish fishermen and some fisheries sectors as the accord expiry date is nearing. This attitude makes one think that the Moroccan government made its decision as a pressure measure against Spain, Youssoufi was quoted by the media as saying. He said the two sides should seek other cooperation possibilities that would be beneficial to the Moroccan fisheries sector.

Under the Morocco-European Union accord, nearly 600 European trawlers, mainly Spanish and Portuguese, operate in Moroccan waters. The Spanish media say fishing in Moroccan waters generates 25,000 direct and indirect jobs in Spain.

Moroccan officials and fisheries professionals propose that the Morocco-EU cooperation seeks another partnership formula, promoting joint ventures in fisheries-related sectors such as shipyards, ship maintenance, and seafood processing, in addition to fish-farming.

Moroccan-Spanish cooperation in fisheries was largely debated at the fisheries sectorial commission which held a meeting under the co-chairmanship of the Moroccan and Spanish ministers of fisheries, Thami Khyari and Loyola De Palacio.

The meeting explored prospects for a new cooperation pattern that will be enforced as of the end of next November.

The Youssoufi-Aznar meeting also discussed the situation in the region and in the Middle East, Morocco's relations with the European Union, the participation of Spanish enterprises in the Moroccan privatization process and means of increasing Spanish investments in Morocco.

Other aspects of bilateral cooperation were reviewed by the ten sectoral commissions that held meetings at ministerial level. These commissions deal with foreign affairs, economy and finance, justice, trade and industry, employment and social affairs, education, fisheries, public works, transports and energy and mines.

The construction of the Mediterranean bypass and the Nador - Taourirt road meant to promote the development of Morocco's northern region, the financing modes of the fixed link across the strait of Gibraltar, and cooperation in matters of gas and electric energy were among the topics covered by the commissions.The emigration issue was also at the focus of Moroccan-Spanish talks. The two sides decided in this respect to set up a joint commission that will examine the migratory policy at the bilateral level.

Youssoufi who is accompanied by a large ministerial delegation, businessmen and representatives of the civil society is to be received by King Juan Carlos of Spain this Thursday. He will hold a joint news conference with Aznar later on to mark the end of the fifth meeting of the Moroccan-Spanish high joint commission.

The Moroccan-Spanish summit meeting, held once a year alternately in Rabat and Madrid, is instituted by the treaty of friendship, cooperation and neighborliness signed by the two countries in 1991.

The goal of these regular meetings is to follow-up the implementation of partnership projects and enhance dialogue, entente and cooperation between the two Mediterranean countries. Spain is Morocco's second trade partner and supplier after France.

Morocco's exports to Spain (fish and shellfish, salt, sulfur, garments, and minerals) went up from $668.8 Million in 1997 to $750.7 million in 1998. Imports from the European country (mechanical devices, semi-finished products, cotton, synthetic fibers, cars, tractors) stood in 1998 at $1.05 billion compared to $881 million in 1997.

Morocco's investments in Spain -- which were null in 1994 -- have also scored a noteworthy progress as they went up from 97 million pesetas in 1997 to 1.15 billion pesetas in 1998.

Spanish investments in Morocco have slowed down in the past year, going down from 3.32 billion pesetas in 1997 to 2.23 billion in 1998.